The project has helped improve the disaster early-warning and forecasting capacity for the Southern hydrometeorology authority and also improved the planning capacity for integrated disaster risk management at both national and provincial level. It also provided investment support to improve the safety of disaster prevention infrastructure including safety of dams, safe-harbor for fishing boats, flood control works, etc., to make them more resilient. All 70 of the project communes received training and equipment for the early warning system, and all of them are accessible to early warning of floods and storms. In addition, 30 communes prepared and implemented their Safer Commune Plans, including the construction of the key identified mitigation infrastructure, training and appointment of disaster management facilitators. The plan has been proven effective for 2009, 2010, and 2011 typhoons/floods, benefiting 210,000 villagers. The Safer Commune Plans have been updated by the communes themselves. The project provided significant upgrades to 10 disaster protection structures and other 320 public services infrastructures including schools, health care facilities, etc. damaged by disasters.

Natural hazards have resulted in average annual economic losses estimated between 1 and 1.5 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) between 1989 and 2008. For instance, the Typhoon Xangsane in 2006 caused damage of US$1.2 billion in the 15 provinces in the Central Region.

Infrastructure and people have been increasingly concentrated in vulnerable areas such as flood­plains and coastal areas, suggesting that disaster-related losses will even increase in the future. An estimated 70 percent of Vietnamese people are exposed to risks from natural hazards—specifically in rural communities where livelihoods are most threatened. The project is aligned with the Vietnamese Government’s new National Strategy for natural disaster prevention, response and mitigation to 2020. Its ultimate goals are to minimize the loss of human life and properties and the environment, and to contribute to ensure the country’s sustainable development, national defense and security.

Solution

An integrated approach is being undertaken to help meet the challenges that rural communities face in living with natural hazards:

• The success of the World Bank pilot on Community-based Disaster Risk Management (CBDRM) which had been implemented in 12 project provinces led the Vietnam government to develop a National CBDRM Program of US$450 million covering 6,000 communes across the country.
• 11 major flood and storm mitigation infrastructure, such as safe harbor, river dykes, evacuation roads, drainage pumping stations in the central region have been constructed and/or rehabilitated.
• More than 210,000 villagers in 30 communes implemented structural measures, including multi-purpose evacuation centers and drainage canals, along with non-structural measures, such as the development of Safer Commune Plans and evacuation drills. 100 percent of project communes received training and equipment for early warning systems.